LaPorte County tries to short-circuit NIPSCO sale

NiSource Inc. won’t comment on a report that it’s negotiating to sell its NIPSCO electric business, but LaPorte County officials nevertheless are lobbying state lawmakers to temporary stop sales of electric utilities, according to The Times of Munster.

The northwest Indiana county wants a public-power authority formed to buy the Merrillville-based utility to prevent an outside buyer from raising rates. Bloomberg said last week Charlotte, N.C.-based Duke Energy Corp. is considered the lead suitor for NIPSCO.